Uses

Principal Proposed Treatments

Other Proposed Treatments

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic endocrine disorder in women. It is characterized by elevated levels of male hormones (androgens), infertility, obesity, insulin resistance, hair growth on face and body, and anovulation—a condition in which the ovaries produce few or no eggs.

Ovaries normally produce follicles that develop into eggs. In women with PCOS, the ovaries produce the follicles, but the eggs may not mature or leave the ovary. The immature follicles can develop into fluid-filled sacs called cysts. Most women with PCOS have cysts, but all women with ovarian cysts do not necessarily have PCOS.

The cause of PCOS is unknown, though genetics may play a role. Some evidence suggests the problem is related to insulin resistance with elevated levels of insulin. These high insulin levels may stimulate excess production of androgens from the ovaries. This could prevent ovulation and lead to enlarged, polycystic ovaries.

Treatments for PCOS include drugs to improve insulin sensitivity, as well as hormonal treatments and, when pregnancy is desired, fertility drugs.

Proposed Natural Treatments for PCOS

Inositol

The supplement inositol has shown some promise for PCOS. In a
double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial, 136 women were given inositol at a dose of 100 mg twice daily, while 147 were given placebo.
1
Over a period of 14 weeks, participants given inositol showed improvement in ovulation frequency as compared to those given placebo. Benefits were also seen in terms of weight loss and levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol.
A subsequent study of 94 PCOS patients found similar results.
8
However, both of the studies were performed by the same research group. Independent confirmation will be necessary before inositol could be considered an effective treatment for PCOS.

For more information, including safety issues, see the full
inositol
article.

N-acetylcysteine

The supplement N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown some promise for treatment of
female infertility
caused by PCOS.

A double-blind, placebo controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of NAC in 150 women with PCOS who had previously failed to respond to the fertility drug
clomiphene
.
2
Participants were given clomiphene plus placebo or clomiphene plus 1.2 grams daily of NAC. The results indicated that combined treatment with NAC plus clomiphene was dramatically more effective than clomiphene taken with placebo. Almost 50% of the women in the combined treatment group ovulated as compared to about 1% in the clomiphene alone group. Pregnancy rate in the combined treatment group was 21%, as compared to 0% in the clomiphene alone group.

However, partially negative results were seen in another study. This trial compared NAC at a dose of 1.8 grams daily against the drug metformin in 61 infertile women with PCOS who had, as in the above study, failed to respond to clomiphine.
7
NAC proved
far less
effective than the drug at inducing ovulation; nonetheless, the data from this study do not rule out a possibility that NAC provided at least some slight benefit.

For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
N-acetylcysteine
article.

Other Treatments

The herb
cinnamon
has shown some promise as a treatment for diabetes. On this basis, it has been tried in PCOS. In a very small placebo-controlled study, it appeared to improve insulin sensitivity.
5

The supplement
chromium
has shown also promise for improving insulin sensitivity, and on this basis, it has been tried as a treatment for PCOS. However, in a small pilot study, use of chromium at 200 mcg daily did not have a positive effect in PCOS.
3

A mixture of
B-vitamins
has shown some promise for improving pregnancy rates in people with PCOS.
6

Green tea
has also been tried in PCOS, but the one small published study failed to show benefit of any kind.
4
Daily spearmint tea consumption was reported to improve patient-assessed hirsutism, as well as testosterone and other hormone levels in a small trial of women with PCOS.
9

The herb
cinnamon
has shown some promise as a treatment for diabetes. On this basis, it has been tried in PCOS. In a very small placebo-controlled study, it appeared to improve insulin sensitivity.
5

The supplement
chromium
has shown also promise for improving insulin sensitivity, and on this basis, it has been tried as a treatment for PCOS. However, in a small pilot study, use of chromium at 200 mcg daily did not have a positive effect in PCOS.
3

A mixture of
B-vitamins
has shown some promise for improving pregnancy rates in people with PCOS.
6

Green tea
has also been tried in PCOS, but the one small published study failed to show benefit of any kind.
4
Daily spearmint tea consumption was reported to improve patient-assessed hirsutism, as well as testosterone and other hormone levels in a small trial of women with PCOS.
9

Revision Information

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